GREELEY, Colo.—A Weld County district judge ruled Thursday that there is enough evidence against a man charged with killing a transgender woman to proceed with a trial.

Thirty-one-year-old Allen Ray Andrade is charged with first-degree murder after deliberation, felony motor vehicle theft, felony identity theft and bias-motivated crime in the death of Angie Zapata on July 17.

The 20-year-old Zapata was born as a male, named Justin, but was living as a woman. Prosecutors say Andrade beat Zapata to death with his fists and a fire extinguisher after discovering she was biologically male.

Colorado hospitals have come under scrutiny in recent months for the high bills patients face when seeking care at their facilities, with lawmakers aiming to address the issue of high costs and spending via legislation this session.